Theme: distorted

Blood warning (yes I know, I haven't put this on previous chapters but I'm trying to put warnings where needed)

There was no way he had made it back before his brother. Yukio had to stay late after class to catch up on some work. Rin was supposed to have walked home but Yukio somehow still beat his older brother back to the dorms. He must have gone to Suguro's dorm or something. Yukio tried to come up with any other explanation as to why he wasn't back yet, but nothing good was coming to mind. He is most definitely a magnet for trouble. With the rain picking up and thunder in the distance, there is no way anything good can come of this. Sighing and rubbing the bridge of his nose beneath his glasses, he decides to try calling his cell first.

It rings, but he doesn't pick up. He tries two more times, just in case, before activating the GPS in his phone to track his whereabouts. He stares at the maps on his phone for a moment. "Hmm, he isn't far from here, but I don't recognize the building." He speaks to no one in particular but grabs his coat and exorcist gear before heading out.

The young exorcist is just passing by the building indicated on his maps when he hears the most heart shattering, agonizing scream he has heard in a long while. Without thinking, he runs inside, checking all rooms before finding a few low-level demons that lead him to the right room. They don't seem to be attacking so they must have been summoned by a tamer. As he enters the room, he has to cover his nose at the smell. It's not the expected smell of rotting meat and days old blood, but the coppery smell of fresh blood and newly ripped open flesh. Someone unknown to him lies half ripped to shreds on the floor just as he enters the room. Blood is still slowly spreading across the floor as the man's insides seem to be spilling out of him. He notices a pile of summoning papers and decides to go ahead and send the demons back, ripping the papers. That's when he sees a blacksmith's hammer on the floor and finally looks up to find the Koma sword on a table with the blade bent at an odd angle.

At the sight of the mangled sword, panic starts to spread. He frantically looks around before finding Rin across the room unconscious, his expression twisted in pain. He kneels down and feels for a pulse. His relief is short lived, however, when the feels that his pulse is much faster than it should be if he is truly unconscious. He pulls out his phone and calls the first person he can think of.

"Nya~ this is a surprise! I haven't heard from you in a while! Wha's goin' on four eyes?!"

"Shura, I need you to come to this location immediately. Rin is in trouble and I need help." He quickly sends her his current location.

The fiery haired exorcist can sense the urgency and immediately drops the playful tone. "What happened? What's wrong with Rin?"

"I… I'm not sure. He's unconscious but his pulse is racing. It's almost as though his body is internally panicking even while his mind is comatose. The Koma sword, it…"

"What?! What's wrong with the sword?!"

"It's bent. Whoever this guy was, he had a blacksmith's hammer that could apparently affect even Kurikara."

"Must have some kind of spiritual power." Her words were mumbled as though talking to herself. "I'm here, what floor are you on?"

"3rd floor, fifth door to the left." As soon as he says that, the call ends.

Shura shows up soon after. She takes one look at the sword and her heart drops. They all remember what happened when it was cracked. What could completely distorting the shape do to Rin?

Not many words are exchanged between the two exorcists as Shura helps to bring Rin back to the dorms and Yukio calls for someone to help dispose of the body and blood. He then grabs the sword to follow Shura out before thinking to grab the hammer as well.

I know this is a bit shorter than some of my recent chapters but if I got too far, I would be putting more than one of my themes in one chapter… sooooo, short chapter it is. :)

On another note: I know it's been a while since I've posted. My mental health has taken a dramatic decline due to stressors with my job and other things. It's been tough, but I am working on it. I want to thank all my readers who are still sticking with me through this. I know my posts are slow but I really appreciate all of you and your amazing patience. I hope you continue to stay with me through my stories! I am determined to make it to the end of this!

78 down, 22 to go! Until next chapter,

NyteXade